An ‘unexpected’ and emotional home-town win, and a beagle that stops others’ first BIS dreams

By Ranny GreenTia McLaughlin photo by Shibaguyz PhotographyBest in show photos by Meg Callea

A stirring “unexpected” home-town win Sunday by a 2-year-old Lhasa Apso and its tearful breeder-owner-handler contrasted sharply by a Saturday triumph of a 15-inch beagle over a final of six others seeking their first best-in-show ribbon

Handler Mike Kurtzner, of Sacramento, Calif., and JJ, a 15-inch beagle named after NASCAR racer Jimmy Johnson, took best-in-show honors Saturday at the Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show. They are flanked by judge Dr. Karen Ericson, of Carnation, left, and Julie Hamasaki, of the Seattle Kennel Club.

“Madonna (Lhasa Apso) is our back-shelf dog,” says Ann Lanterman, of Redmond, the co-breeder. “Is there anything sweeter than winning on your home turf? I don’t think so? For Lanterman, who has been involved with the breed for 45 years, this was only her second best-in-show win.

Breeder-owner-handler Tia McLaughlin, of Puyallup, was overcome after judge Vincent Gross, of Banning, Calif., walked past the entire Select Seven field and pointed to her and Madonna, signaling his choice.

“I couldn’t believe it at first,” she gushed. “It was totally unexpected, since Madonna is not a dog I have campaigned a lot. But she showed beautifully today and was right on top of her game. I couldn’t have asked for more. “

For Team Madonna (McLaughlin/Lanterman) it was the perfect weekend. The dog gained a Non-Sporting Group 3 placement Saturday to go with its group and best-in-show triumphs Sunday.

Tia McLaughlin, of Puyallup, and Madonna, a Lhasa Apso, took top honors at Sunday’s all-breed show. Judge Vincent Grosso, of Banning Calif., and Seattle Kennel Club member Leslie Engen are beside the winner.

“Madonna kinda fancies herself on being a diva,” adds McLaughlin. “Her strong suits are breed type and movement.” The Sunday group win was her fourth.

For more than three hours Saturday it appeared a special story was unfolding, for none of the first six group winners had best-in-show credit in its resume. That came to a halt in the final group – hound – which was won by JJ, an 18-months-old, 15-inch beagle handled by Mike Kurtzner, of Sacramento, Calif., and owned by Sheri and Darrell Smith, of Snohomish.

JJ had one best-in-show and six group wins beforehand. When asked about JJ’s strong suits, a beaming Sheri Smith said, “His temperament and movement. He’s a happy go-lucky dog who just loves to show as you could see today. And Mike knows how to coax the best out of him each time out.”

JJ was one of four entries to reach the best-in-show ring both days before a weekend paid attendance of 6,500.

The other three double group winners were:

Terrier Group – Cruise, a 4-year-old Bedlington terrier, handled by Kevin Chestnut, of Moses Lake, and owned by Sharon Holden and Joyce Berk, of Spokane.

Sporting Group – Piper, a 6-year-old Spinoni Italiani, handled by Carmen Ruby McCowen, of Gig Harbor, and owned by Jamie Austad and Kim Norton, of Mountlake Terrace. Piper was a group winner here last year, meaning three of the dog’s five group wins have come at the Seattle shows, and took reserve best in show Saturday.

McLaughlin is all smiles after her big win with Madonna. This was the 2-year-old dog’s first best-in-show triumph to go along with four Non-Sporting group top placements.

Ranny Green, a Seattle Times pets columnist and feature writer for three decades before retiring in 2008, will be writing monthly features and book reviews on this newly revised web site. Green is also the former president of the Dog Writers Association of America, a five-time recipient of the DWAA's columnist of the year award and a six-time winner of the DWAA feature writer of the year for newspapers over 150,000 circulation. He currently serves on the media staff of the famed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show staff in New York City each February, and is on the board of numerous dog- and animal-related charities. He and his wife Mary own a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a rescue dog.